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Montecito93108's avatar

Your stated intent admirable, your article enlightening! Common sense escapes CA, and other blue states. Yes, SBPL needs to mirror the IMLS by eliminating jobs like such as the two local high paying ones that proved unnecessary during the two extensive paid leaves. Curiosity remains regarding the $500K NDA payoff to silence.

How I wish all South County secondary, and specific SBUSD school libraries remained open to 6p to give all children a quiet place to read, do homework, and receive adult assistance. Too many SBUSD students — especially at Cleveland, Franklin, Harding, McKinley Elementary Schools — must remain on campus to 5;30-6. They sit in the auditorium/ multipurpose room.

Too many live in crowded conditions (5-6 persons in 450 sf) where it’s impossible to study. I visit some homes. To read, some wear headlights in a dark crowded living room with 3-4 stacked bunk beds while the TV or music plays. Forget a desk to do math. The only small meal table doubles as the pantry stacked high with cases of canned food and water. No one complains, it’s simply reality reminding me again of the purpose and need for libraries.

There’s criticism of dismal student proficiency while we deprive too many students of access to their neighborhood school library. Why?

Prior to school libraries, how many of us grew up with two working parents who instructed us to walk to the nearby public library after school? Libraries, books became part of our daily routine. We were expected to read. Locally, students attending high proficiency K-6 schools are required to learn 15 new vocabulary words a week, and read 20-30 minutes a day with signed parent weekly confirmation. (Reminds me of the Readers Digest increase your word power quiz; then reading a few articles.)

Sadly, too many local school library doors are locked by 2:30-3p and all day Saturday. Let’s help youth make libraries a habit again!

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Polly Frost's avatar

Excellent Brent, don't listen to the comments that say you should have gotten to the point faster. Your point was beautifully made, and made much more eloquently because you didn't scold the reader.

I personally had a great relationship with the downtown public library when I was a teen. You could take out recordings of music and magazines that had articles about people and things you were interested in.

But I stopped in my twenties. So your column resonated with me as well.

Thank you for relaying your personal journey and why we all need to protect our libraries from this kind of grift.

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